甘肃省莲花山鬼鸮繁殖巢址记述

鬼鸮在世界上呈环北极分布,其甘肃亚种自1928年在甘肃西北部的天堂寺首次发现后,80多年来在甘肃一直未见报道,其它分布点亦非常零散。1999～2003年,作者在甘肃省莲花山区发现鬼分布,并记录鬼鸮繁殖巢址3个。鬼鸮营巢于针叶树的树洞中,雌雄共同育雏。

甘肃莲花山四川林鸮初步观察

Supported by BP Conservation Programme, we mounted 40 nest for Strix davidi in suitable habitat at Lianhuashan Natural Reserve, Gansu in 2002-2003. Those nest boxes enable us close observing of breeding success of this rare species in 2005 for the very first time. The first pair bred laid 2 eggs in a nest box and both young were fledged. In May 2006, we monitored 3 territorial males in an area around 500 hm2 by playback method. In mid-June, we found droppings and pellets at the side of a vertical precipice, with hint that an active breeding site there. Two young owls were detected in the crown of a tall spruce tree, situated directly at the base the precipice, on which was thought to be their nest site.

杂斑腹小鸮实为鬼鸮

Based on two specimens collected from Sichuan Province, Yang et al. (1989) described a new subspecies of the spotted little owl (Athene brama), the belly-mottled little owl (Athene brama poikila). This subspecies has been acknowledged by Cheng (2000). However, Cheng (2000) also mentioned that further work should be done on this subspecies. In 2001, we checked the specimen of Athene brama poikila in Ya’an, Sichuan and comparing them with the spotted little owl and the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus). The boreal owl is identifiable from its rather square facial disc, however, this character was destroyed during the facture for these two specimens of Athene brama poikila. That is the reason Yang et al.(1989) missed them with the genus Athene. The genus Aegolius is also identifiable from the genus Athene from the character on the toes, as the toes of the boreal owl are covered with thick feathers, whereas the toes of the little owl are bristled. The toes of these two specimens of Athene brama poikila are thickly feathered, corresponding to the identification of the genus Aegolius. The morphological characters and measurements of the two specimens also correspond to the boreal owl. The habitat of the two specimens was reported as conifer deciduous forest around 2 200 m to 3 100 m, which fits the habitat of the boreal owl. The distribution of the endemic Gansu subspecies of the boreal owl (A. f. beickianus) was reported at Tiantangsi, Lianhuashan in Gansu, Guinan in Qinghai and Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan in China, it was also reported at Lahul in north India, Sun et al. (2001) suggested that it is probably the boreal owl is also distributed in the conifer forest of west Sichuan and east Tibet. The new distribution point in Baoxing and Yajiang in Sichuan corresponds to this conjecture. As a conclusion, we believe that these two specimens should belong to the A. f. beickianus of the boreal owl .

四川林鸮在甘肃的新分布

New distribution areas of the Sichuan wood owl (Strix davidi) were recorded at Lianhuashan Natural Reserve (Kangle county),Zecha (Luqu county) and Kache (Zhuoni county) in Gansu,China.Now its distribution includes west Sichuan,southeastern Qinghai and southern Gansu.Combined with the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis),this distribution range corresponds to the distribution of the genera Bonasa (B.sewerzowi and B.bonasia) and Perisoreus (P.internigrans and P.infaustus).All are related to the endemic birds in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Based on our work during 1995～1999,we reported our field observations and preliminary habitat characters of the bird.The main habitat of Sichuan wood owl in Gansu was found in the conifer and conifer-deciduous mixing forest from 2 900 m to 3 300 m.At the Lianhuashan Natural Reserve,the birds were observed many times,with some breeding activities.The population of Sichuan wood owl at Lianhuashan Mountains was an isolated one,and the reserve only protected about 3 360 hm\+2.of its habitat.